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‘The Divine Comedy’

Works on paper from wood blocks

Only $395

Created over 50 years ago, signed in the block and extremely well preserved.

“The Divine Comedy” is arguably the most ambitious and famous book illustration project ever undertaken by Salvador Dali – and I’m going to be talking about this monumental effort over the next several blog posts.

Just as the poem’s 13th century author, Dante Alighieri, did a remarkable job on this iconic masterpiece of Italian literature, Dali, too, poured his heart and soul into a tale that seemed ideally matched to the Spanish master’s sensibilities. “The Divine Comedy” describes Dante’s imaginary tour of Hell (Inferno), Purgatory and finally Paradise (Heaven) in 99 verses or Cantos.

On Dante’s journey, he’s accompanied by the Roman poet, Virgil. And in purgatory he meets Beatrice, who ultimately leads him into Paradise (Beatrice did actually exist in Dante’s life; she was the daughter of a Florentine noble family, and Dante – who adored her – immortalized her in many of his literary works).

Salvador Dali, through his 100 watercolor drawings that were later converted to wood blocks – each part of a Canto or book chapter about eight pages in length – captured the spirit, energy, and spectacle of Dante’s journey like no one else could. From the anguished burden exuded in the work, “The Avaricious and the Prodigal” from the Inferno Book; to the voluptuously erotic “The Dream” from the Purgatory Book; to the mystical feeling of “The Creation of the Angels” from the Paradise Book, Dali’s colorful and dynamic images stir the imagination and embrace the literary soul of the great poet, Dante.

When the subject of Salvador Dali prints comes up, “The Divine Comedy” leaps instantly to mind, for it is something of a heroic creative project that virtually defines Dali in the world of print-making, and is among the most sought-after creations from the ingenious mind of the 20th century’s greatest artist.